Premiership Rugby puts Restart Rugby centre stage

PREMIERSHIP RUGBY is delighted to announce that Round 21 of Aviva Premiership Rugby, next weekend, is being dedicated to Restart Rugby the official charity of The Rugby Players' Association (RPA).

As a mark of the strengthening of the partnership between Premiership Rugby and the RPA Round 21 has been renamed the Restart Rugby Weekend.

A number of initiatives are being staged to promote Restart amongst clubs, supporters and Aviva Premiership Rugby partners with many of the players in action wearing Restart T-shirts to warm-up to show support for their charity.

"Player welfare is our No 1 priority so we are delighted to be supporting the great work of Restart Rugby in this way," said Phil Winstanley, Rugby Director, Premiership Rugby.

"Restart Rugby supports professional rugby players to prepare for life after rugby and so performs a vital role in the team today. The work the charity does to give players the life skills for careers after rugby is essential."

Damian Hopley the Chief Executive of the RPA said: "This is a very important partnership and we are delighted with the platform Premiership Rugby is giving us to promote the great work being done by Restart Rugby.

"Our players give their all for team, club and country, but their lives can change in a split second: a bad tackle, collapsed scrum, serious concussion, an accident or illness off the pitch.

"Restart Rugby is there to support players and their families with financial, practical and emotional support, including help with medical treatment, rehabilitation, counselling, education and career transition."

Restart Rugby is a registered charity (No. 1113160) that relies on the support of businesses, rugby supporters and the players themselves to raise funds each year for those in need.

· Visit the Restart Rugby website to get involved or donate online: http://www.restartrugby.org.uk
· Text RUGB09 and then the amount you wish to donate to 70070
· Attend future RPA events, all of which raise funds for Restart Rugby
· Donate auction prizes at RPA events such as The Rugby Players' Awards 2015 on 13 May at Battersea Evolution in London

If you would like any more information on Restart Rugby and how to get involved or to donate please visit http://www.restartrugby.org.uk, follow @RestartRugby or like Restart Rugby on Facebook.